Returning Home

At the Office of Global Education, we want to support our students from the moment they walk through our doors asking about study abroad to the moment they return home from an incredible learning experience.

Upon completion of your study abroad program, you will need to transfer your credits from your host institution to Mercer. For information about this process, please talk with Bryan Johnson, the Global Education Programs Coordinator, johnson_mb@mercer.edu.

Often, we will discuss with those traveling abroad the difficulties of culture upon arrival in their host country; however, it is just as prudent to prepare yourself and understand the realities of reverse culture shock. This is a common occurrence experienced by students returning to the U.S. after a study abroad program. 80% of people returning from an experience abroad have some form of difficulty with re-entry and it may be more difficult for some than it is for others.

When considering your re-entry into the United States, consider these three pointes:

Home has changed.
You have changed.
You have adapted to another culture and now you must readapt.

Returning home isn’t easy for a number of reasons, including how much you have changed, how you understand these changes, and how much your friends and family accept these changes. It’s important to take time to consider your particular difficulties.

Think about the statements below:

I know that I have changed as a result of my experience because…
My friends seem to understand_______ about me, but they don’t understand _______.
My re-entry experience would be better if.
Now that I am home, I worry most about…
The one thing I know I have learned about myself is…
I wish I could explain to my family and friends that…

There are many ways to combat reverse culture shock:

Talk with others who have been abroad
Find a community that wants to hear your stories!
Keep your memories alive – try journaling!
Explore domestically
Make a travel goal; start saving for your next trip
Reflect on what you learned abroad
Write down what you thought was great about the US while you were abroad
Find physical supports – get German chocolate if you miss Germany, learn to make one of your favorite foods, movies, books, etc.

In addition to the above, it’s helpful to get involved as a way to talk about your recent international experience. The Office of Global Engagement has developed several ways for students to get involved, check them out below.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL: During this dinner, we will connect you with the international community here at Mercer! You will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with peers who recently studied abroad as well as with our incoming and returning international students. This event has been popular in the past as it is a fun and relaxed way to make friends and talk about your experiences abroad. You will receive an invitation for this with a date, time, and RSVP link.
RE-ENTRY WORKSHOP: We offer this workshop every semester because it is a great way to meet other students who returned from studying abroad like you. We know that reverse culture-shock can be difficult and often students look for an outlet to talk about the life-changing experiences they just had. This workshop talks about those complex feelings, how to deal with returning home, and allows you to share your stories with peers. Additionally, you will get more information on how to stay involved with the international community, how to go abroad again if that interests you, and how to bring your career abroad after graduation!
BECOME A STUDY ABROAD AMBASSADOR: The Study Abroad Ambassador Program is an organization of Mercer students, who after their return from a study abroad program, commit to become student leaders on-campus with the outreach and promotion of Mercer’s study abroad opportunities and benefits.

Why You?

The Office of Global Education wants to capitalize on your thoughts and expertise from your time abroad, through cultivating an environment where you can share your experience with those around you who have the same passion! Fully grasp your role as a global citizen, and grow in academic, professional and personal development!

We want Study Abroad Ambassadors to holistically reflect upon and articulate a variety of topics from their time abroad, while maintaining a professional demeanor and positive attitude regarding their international experience. Through involvement in the Mercer community, the Study Abroad Ambassador program is your way to continue to build upon your experience abroad, back home!

Every September during Study Abroad Week, the Office of Global Education hosts a photo contest for students to show off their photos! We offer six categories for students to submit as many photos as they want, but students can only win one category:

Best Architecture
Best Student Candid
Best Landscape
Best Mercer Spirit
Best Cultural Experience
Best Video

Need to complete a Follow On Service Project (FOSP)?

Many of the activities on this page can be completed as a FOSP: Becoming a Study Abroad Ambassador, doing an Instagram takeover, writing us a blog post, or working on a creative project! However, if none of these appeal to you, there are many other ways you can complete the giveback requirement of the Gilman and Global Leader Scholarship. If any of the ways to give back on this page interest you, please email studyabroad@mercer.edu.

Once you have completed your FOSP, you will need to email Emily Dunn, dunn_ea@mercer.edu, to verify the completion of your project?

PRESENTATION

Talk to a student group about your experience abroad. This is an opportunity to show photos and share how your program has enriched your education and future career to a group of students. This could be done in the following contexts: in one of your classes that has an international component, during one of our Study Abroad 101 sessions, at a student organization meeting, to a group of local kids, etc. One of our staff members or Study Abroad Ambassadors would be happy to join and support you. Your presentation can be as short as 10 minutes! Just be sure to mention how the Scholarship helped to fund your Study Abroad program! 

TABLING- CSC LOBBY

Share your love of Study Abroad with others in the CSC Lobby whenever works best for your schedule! This is a great opportunity to engage others in a Q&A about study abroad at Mercer. You can table by yourself, with a friend, with a Mercer Abroad staff member, or a Study Abroad Ambassador! We will provide you with materials-just show up, set up, and you are good to go!

TABLING-MERCER STUDY ABROAD FAIR OR WEEK

Join us in September or January in Penfield Hall at our bi-annual fair! You can talk to students about your experience abroad. Whether it be at a country table, a program provider table, a scholarship table, or faculty-led table, we can find a place for you to help us show the impact of our programs!

TABLING-ADMISSIONS EVENT

The university offers resource fairs during the spring, summer, and fall. These fairs provide a great opportunity to inspire others within a short amount of time-about one hour. Speak with prospective students & their parents about the Study Abroad opportunities Mercer has to offer. At least one member of our team will accompany you.

BLOG POST

Write a blurb about your experience abroad and have it featured in the Bears Abroad blog, on our website, in the Den or Cluster, or other Mercer correspondence with faculty, staff, and students.

PROMO VIDEO

Join our program assistants to be featured in one of our Mercer Study Abroad promo videos, featured on Instagram and TikTok. You may be interviewed for the video, share some photos, or simply give a short description of your time abroad.

GET CREATIVE!

If none of these sound fun to you and you would like to do something else, let us know! We’ve had students propose creating apps for us, creating videos for our website, or writing blogs to promote study abroad. If you want to tap into your creative side, now is a great time to do so and we will support you as you brainstorm ways to complete your give back!